Center for Research and Security Studies
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Transcription
Series: Sabawoon
Program: Da Sime Jaj
Date: 19-04-2016
Field Story#1: Anwar Anjum, Swat
Field Story#1: Aisha Tehseen, Charsada
Field Story#1: Gohar Wazir, Bannu
Anchor Person: Saima Gul

SUMMARY:
âTourism plays an indispensible role in the development of economy and livelihood of a place. Swat is considered to be the most beautiful place in Pakistan. This is the reason why some people call it the Switzerland of Pakistan. Government has lifted the ban on NOCs from foreign tourists. Foreigners can now get NOCs easily and can visit the beautiful places in Swat. Local people, journalists and Hotel Association in Fiza Ghatt take it as a positive decision by the government. They say that livelihood of their areas would progress if both local and foreigners start visiting their places. Some people suggest that government must have a check and balance on rents and fares. It is worth mentioning that NGOs have also been struggling for the development of the country. Al-Khidmat Foundation has opened six vocational centers in Swat for widows, orphans and poor women where weaving cloth, boot, footwear and school bags making is taught. Women are really happy at the formation of these centers. Many of them have now been working inside their homes and are living independent lives. Unemployed men are also trained in these centers. On the other hand âHunarmandan Arts Societyâ has been formed by artists in Bannu. The purpose of the association is to get rights of the artists and resurrect the dying culture and importance of art within the people. The artists complain that artists in other districts of KPK have been compensated, but Bannu artists have been ignored thoroughly.â

Transcription:
Saima: In the name of Almighty. Dear listeners, Assalam-o-alaikum. This is your host Saima Gul with the program âSabawoonâ. Sabawoon is sponsored by CRSS. The segment for today is âDa Sime Jagâ. This is a program via which we let you know about different events and activities in KPK and FATA. Hope you would be hale and hearty wherever you are. You have been listening to our programs live on FM 101.5 for years now. You can give your feedback on our telephone number 091-111000101. In addition, you can participate by sending text messages on 0333-5807111. No extra charges are deducted. As usual, we have a community talk in one of our reports. Anwar Anjum has prepared a report from Swat. He has talked to Hotel Association about the ban lifted from NOCs regarding tourism. Letâs listen to the report. We will be back. Stay with us.
REPORT: Anwar Anjum, Swat
I am currently present in a beautiful place of Swat which is called Fiza Ghatt. We have a beautiful panoramic view where Swat River is floating alongside greenery of spring season. The weather is awesome. We have got people here from different walks of life comprising of Hotel Association, journalists and tourists from different places. We will talk with them about the ban on foreign tourists which was declared due to law and order situation due to militancy. Foreign Tourists cannot come here without NOC. The government as a result has decided to lift the ban on NOCs so that foreign tourists may visit without any difficulty to enjoy the beauty and history of these places. We will talk to people here in order to know what their point of view is about this decision. We will break the ice with Muhammad Wakeel who is the General Secretary of Hotel Association. The biggest role in the development of livelihood here is connected with hotels and industries.
Anwar: What is your point of view about this decision and how beneficial would it be for this area?
Muhammad Wakeel: We take it as a good decision as tourism is the third step towards the development of Swat Livelihood as thousands of people are dependent on it. According to our statistics 40 to 50 thousand people are directly connected to tourism. There are approximately 400 hotels and 800 restaurants. Though the government took the decision very late, but its better late than never. Foreign tourists can play a vital role in enhancing livelihood of Swat. Tourists from Japan, Singapore and Malaysia used to visit these hotels before year 2000. Tourist from Europe used to visit here via Kabul. By the time law and order situation got worse here, they stopped visiting here which caused immense loss to our hotels. Youth will get job opportunities by the declaration of this decision.
Anwar: We have Mr. Fazal Khalik who not only has an eagle eye on history of these places, but has written a book on it as well. How do you see this decision?
Fazal Khalik: It is true that Swat is a beautiful place, but its importance in history is due to its civilizations. There is a colossal number cultural historic monument in shape of Gandhara Civilization. We have monuments of Cave Culture which was before Gandhara Civilization. We have Indo-Greek Civilization here as well. There are Buddhist worship and education places in Swat. Apart from it we have research, science and technology monuments as well. Swat has got another importance in Buddhists that Padma Sumbawa was born here. Foreigners ask us that they want to visit Swat, but how they can as NOCs system here was very complicated due to which they couldnât come. It takes one month to get Visa and three months to get NOC which would shy away them from visiting. Buddhists used to visit here via chartered flights. 400 hotels here wouldnât be enough if only Buddhists started visiting here.
Anwar: We have Mr. Niaz Ahmad Khan who is a senior journalist of Swat. He works with different newspapers and an international radio. What is your take on the removal of this ban and how much beneficial would it be for the livelihood of this area?
Niaz: People of Swat and Hotel Association have had the demand of removal of this ban from both provincial and central governments for a long time. Provincial government took this initiative. This decision is beneficial in several perspectives. It indicates that peace in Malakand and Swat has been restored thoroughly. Security agencies must have agreed to give security to foreigners. We havenât had any major bomb blast or militancy for the last three years in Swat which is a proof of better peace in Swat. The people of Swat are immensely hospitable. They have been welcoming visitors for the last 60 or 70 years. Swat has been affected mostly by militancy in the last 8 years. It was declared the most unsafe place in terms of security. The removal of ban on NOCs is a good catalyst to remove this negative thought of insecurity. New roads and hotels will be constructed for the facilitation of tourists which would lead towards a new period.
Anwar: We have another journalist Mr. Amjid Ali Sahab who is an Editor in a local newspaper. Is law and order satisfactory for foreigners here and are there enough facilities her for their facilitation?
Amjid: A positive message has been conveyed to the world that peace has restored in Swat. As peace has restored and ban on foreigners has also been removed so we appeal the concerned authorities to resume the airport here as well. We request all the security agencies not to bother tourists at check posts as they might already have been cleared at airport. I guess tourists should be checked for security reasons at only one check post.
Anwar: We have got two tourists that have come from different places. How are feeling here in Swat and what message would you give to foreigner tourists?
Tourist1: My name is Javid Iqbal. I have come with family from Peshawar. The environment here is awesome. Local people are so welcoming. There are beautiful mountains and forests. We donât have any problems here. We visited many places in Swat. All of them are really captivating. Foreigners should visit this part of the world as there are no security issues whatsoever. There are historic places and ancient monuments in Swat. The government has taken a positive decision to lift the ban of NOCs in this regard.
Anwar: Another renowned journalist of Swat Mr. Saleem Athar is present with us at the moment. What is your take on this decision?
Saleem: The ban was declared due to the worse law and order situation in Swat that has been there from 2006 to 2013. The government has lift the ban as peace has been restored thoroughly. It is a good step. Local tourists do visit Swat, but foreigners had stop visiting here since 2006. Foreigners would not only come to for tourism, but would stay at hotels which would help Hotel Association financially. Transport sector would also get benefits. It would have a positive impact on livelihood of the people.
Anwar: We have got another tourist here. What message would you give to foreign tourists?
Tourist2: My name is Alamzeb Nayab from Mardan. I visited different places along with my children. I liked them a lot. I visited Malam Jaba, Bahrain and Kalam. The environment is very tranquil. I also visited Salampur and Marghuzar as well. I liked all the places. Fiza Ghatt too is a great location. One can see panoramic views all around with river floating. The environment here is serene. Everyone should visit this part of the world. The decision taken by the government is commendable. This territory would develop. Livelihood would improve. The people of Swat are mostly dependent on tourists. I myself shopped a lot in different bazars. Livelihood would progress if local tourists start visiting here. My message to foreigners is that Swat is completely a tranquil place now. We visited different place, but havenât seen militancy or anything upsetting.
Anwar: Dear listeners, you heard people from different walk of life saying that they would welcome tourists gracefully. They also say that it would be beneficial for the livelihood of Swat if tourists start visiting.
Saima: Welcome back listeners. You listened to Anwar Anjum talking to people of Swat. We will take a call.
Saima: Hello.
Call dropped due to technical problem
Saima: Call couldnât be transferred due to some technical problem. You can try again. 091-111000101 is the calling number. You listened to the effects on livelihood of Swat due to the ban on foreign tourism. People had a terrible picture of Swat due to militancy, but peace has been restored thoroughly now. We have got a caller.
Saima: Hello.
Caller: Hello. This is Mukamil Shah from Peshawar. I welcome the initiative taken by the government. It is the responsibility of the government to provide security to both local and non-local tourists. Tourists must not harm the beauty there and should show politeness. Swat is a very beautiful place in Pakistan. It is the Switzerland of Pakistan. People should visit Swat with friends and families keeping its culture in mind.
Saima: Thanks a lot for calling. Summer vacations are on the corner. People should go with families in summer to avoid hot weather here. Other countries too are strengthened economically by tourism. We have got a call.
Caller: This is Sher Ali Kakar from Zoob. It is a good that tourists would visit once again and livelihood would improve. I would like to know that whether tourists can only visit Swat or other Pashtun Territories as well.
Saima: They can only visit Malakand Division.
Caller: Thank a million.
Saima: Thanks for calling and participating. It is time to share our second report which is by Aisha Tehseen from Charsada. Six vocational centers have been opened by an NGO to uplift livelihood of poor people particularly women who donât have any source of income. Letâs listen to it. Before going towards the report I would share a message sent by Engineer Amir Sohail from Katlang. He says that there should be check and balance on hotels so that they might not treat tourists unfairly in terms of fares. Thanks a lot for your message. Letâs listen to the report. We will continue our program. Stay with us.
REPORT: Aisha Tehseen, Charsada
An NGO has opened six vocational centers in different parts of Charsada District for the livelihood of widows, orphans and hopeless women. Cloth, footwear, shoes and school bags making skills are taught in these skill centers. Women from many families have got jobs as a result. Noor Jahan, who belongs to Mata, says, âWe used to do work offered by other people. We were in a miserable condition. The NGO not only has thought us different skills but has paid us one thousand rupees per month. We have started our own work at home. We got rid of working for others. We do this work inside our homes with honor. We get money by making cloth at home. We couldnât think of sending our children to schools, but now we can do so with the grace of Allah.â Roheela a resident of Tariq Abad too has learnt skill in this center. Her both legs are paralyzed. She says, âMy both legs are paralyzed. We are really happy for the training given. We no longer would be asking others for money. I used to be really upset for not having any skill in hand by which I could earn some money. I learnt the skill of making boots, footwear, bags, purses and pouches in center of Al-Khidmat Foundation. I have bought a machine for myself and work on it at home. It is a source of our income. We are really jubilant at the formation of these centers.â Saliha, who is a trainee at skill center, says that they are given education alongside training. As a result of working at home for money, their children are also getting education. She says, âWe used to work in other homes to earn money as my husband was sick. We work at home now after having trained by skill center. We got training in skill center because of which treatment of my husband and education of children is going on. Apart from training, they are giving us education as well. We work independently now.â Not only disabled and poor women are trained in these skill centers, but unemployed educated youth of Charsada is also cashing this opportunity. They do their own work now. Ibrahim, who is a resident of Charsada, says, âI didnât have any job despite having done F. Sc. I got training of making boots and footwear in this skill center. I am doing my own job now. Half of the responsibility is mine to support home financially. If there werenât these skill centers, I would have been a load on society.â Sana Ullah, who is the Supervisor of Charsada Skill Centers, told CRSS about the purpose, number of trainees and funding in these words. âI am the supervisor of skill centers where cloth is woven on a loom. Apart from it, school bag making is taught. Next, we have a course of boots and footwear. 535 students have got training so far most of which are widows and orphans. The purpose of our skill centers is to give a skill to people. We are sponsored by organizations from Turkey and Muslim AID Australia.â
Saima: Yet another step has been taken in Charsada where vocational centers have been opened for women by an NGO. Women have learnt different skills which would support them financially particularly widows or women who donât have any source of income. Sadam Afridi called during the second report. He declared the removal of ban on NOCs a very good move. He said that Swat is the France of Pakistan whereas some people call the Switzerland of Pakistan. He also emphasized on check and balance so that situation might be under control. Apart from it, he said that local tourists should visit places in Swat. Thanks a lot for calling. Technical Educational and Vocational Training Board too has been concentrating on vocational centers. It is a government organization. There are 52 and 18 vocational centers for men and women in KPK respectively. In addition, there are 25 and 3 Polytechnic Colleges for men and women respectively. You can get all the information regarding it from a website. I will tell the website after taking this call.
Caller: This is Ijaz from Peshawar University. I would like to add something to your statistical figures about vocational centers. Government made Technical and Vocational Authority last year. It replaced existing boards. It is an autonomy body. Its purpose is to develop direct links of vocational institutes and technical colleges with industries so that we might get future professionals. It is very important as most of the time trainees donât know what and how to do things. Please do mention the website address alongside helpline and other important information. Moreover, NGOs have been training people on different skills. NGOs links with international organizations are also available on this website.
Saima: Thank you so much for calling. Website address is www.kptevta.gov.pk. All the important information is available on this website. I will share the last report which is by Gohar Wazir from Bannu. Artists have formed an association. They have a complaint from government that artists from other areas have been given attention, but no attention as such has been given to Bannu Artists. Letâs listen to it. We will be back shortly. Stay with us.
REPORT: Gohar Wazir, Bannu
An organization named âHunarmandan Arts Societyâ has been formed by artists in Bannu for getting their rights and promoting art. The purpose of this association is to bring people closer to artists, promoting the importance of art in people and demanding rights of artists from current provincial government. Dil Muhammad, who is a music director, says that their senior artists Sher Afgan and Dil Faraz Niazi too have formed such artists association in the past. They realized that it is impossible to get their rights without any association. He says, âWe donât have any other job so we appeal the government to facilitate us. We decided to form an association after consultation with each other. Bannu has its own dialect and music. We donât our culture to die. We have our own poetry and music.â Ahmad Faraz Niazi, who is the president of the association and a musician, says that not only TV and Radio have ignored artists of Bannu, but current provincial government too has ignored them thoroughly. Though, the government has helped artists from other areas. The government should reconsider its initiative in this regard so that Bannu Artists are given their rights. He says, âGovernment has issued funds to all the artists of KPK, but Bannu District has been ignored unfortunately. We wonder if we donât have quality artists. They should judge us. We have great artists such as musicians, singers and actors. We have got immense talent. We havenât been given a chance of performing on TV. Most of the artists become hopeless so the current provincial government and governments to come must take this issue seriously.â Farid Ullah Wazir, who is a singer, said that the target of Hunarmandan Arts Society Bannu would be promoting its cultural music alongside many other demands as it can be helpful in paving ways towards prosperity and peace. He says, âWe formed this union to develop our art as Pashtuns consider it as a disgrace. Another purpose is to avoid the involvement of youth in militancy and drugs addiction so that prosperity may occur in country as people related to music donât like militancy.â The leading persons of Hunarmandan Arts Society also said that they would struggle to keep the music alive in its pure form i.e. the music inherited to them from their seniors. They would try to promote it to other places as well.
Saima: Welcome back dear listeners. You heard the report by Gohar Wazir. The dialect used by people in Bannu is beautiful. We donât understand most of the words though. Hunarmandan Arts Society is formed to resurrect the importance of arts in people. Artists in Bannu arenât happy with government as they havenât been given importance whatsoever. It is important to promote our culture in new generation and it is these artists who do it. Hope you have liked todayâs program. If you want to give your feedback, feedback@crss.pk is the mailing address. Till the next Tuesday, itâs goodbye.

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